The Military Cross (Dutch: Militaire Kruis, French: Croix Militaire) is a military long service decoration of Belgium. It was established by Royal Decree on 11 February 1885 and is awarded to commissioned officers in the Belgian Armed Forces for loyal and uninterrupted service. Approximately 300 Military Crosses are awarded annually.
The Military Cross is awarded in two classes to commissioned officers of the Belgian armed forces on the basis of their length of service:
Military Cross First Class: Awarded after 25 years of meritorious service as a commissioned officer;Military Cross Second Class: Awarded to a commissioned officer after 25 years of meritorious service in the Belgian military.Officers of the military reserve can also be awarded this decoration, on the condition that they participated in the yearly training period every year.
The Military Cross is a black enamelled Maltese cross with a 1mm gilt edge, the cross arms end in eight 2mm in diameter gilt spheres. Gilt crossed swords pointing up are positioned between the arms of the cross. The obverse central medallion bears the Belgian "lion rampant", pre 1952, the reverse medallion bore the royal cypher of the reigning monarch, post 1952, the reverse is identical to the obverse.
Suspension is by means of a ribbon through a suspension ring passing through the orb of a pivot mounted crown. The green silk moiré ribbon has two 5 mm wide red stripes set 1 mm from the ribbon's edges. The Military Cross First Class differs only from the second class award in the form of a rosette on the ribbon in the same colours as the ribbon.
The individuals listed below were awarded the Military Cross 1st class:
Lieutenant General Jean-Baptiste PironBrigadier General Frank, Viscount De WinneLieutenant General Alphonse Ferdinand TrommeLieutenant General Baron Charles de CumontLieutenant General Albert Baron CrahayCavalry Lieutenant General Marcel JoorisLieutenant General Roger DewandreLieutenant General Ernest EngelenLieutenant General Sir Louis TeysenLieutenant General Constant WeynsPolice Lieutenant General August Van WanzeeleAviator Lieutenant General Armand CrekillieLieutenant General Roger MaesMajor General Maurice JacmartDivisional Admiral Léon LurquinAviator Vice Admiral Sir André SchlimVice Admiral Jozef De WildeCavalry Major General Jules François Gaston EveraertLieutenant General Jules Joseph PireCavalry Lieutenant General Sir Maximilien de Neve de RodenCavalry Lieutenant General Baron Victor Van Strijdonck de BurkelLieutenant General Georges DeffontaineLieutenant General Alphonse VerstraeteMajor General Baron Georges DanloyLieutenant General Baron Raoul de Hennin de Boussu-WalcourtLieutenant General Joseph LeroyCavalry Lieutenant General Jules De BoeckLieutenant General Fernand VanderhaeghenLieutenant General Robert OorLieutenant General Libert Elie ThomasLieutenant General Léon BievezCavalry Major General Baron Beaudoin de Maere d’AertryckeMajor General Lucien Van HoofMajor General Jean BuysseAviator Major General Norbert LebouttePolice Lieutenant General Louis Joseph LeroyMajor General Paul JacquesAviator Major General Norbert LebouttePolice Lieutenant General Louis Joseph LeroyPolice Lieutenant General Oscar-Eugène DethiseLieutenant General Harry JungbluthCavalry Lieutenant General Baron Albert du Roy de BlicquyLieutenant General Sir Antonin de Selliers de MoranvilleLieutenant General Félix WielemansLieutenant General Baron Louis de RyckelLieutenant General Baron Émile Dossin de Saint-GeorgesLieutenant General Count Gérard-Mathieu LemanLieutenant General Victor BertrandLieutenant General Joseph JacquetLieutenant General Baron Jules Jacques de DixmudeLieutenant General Albert Lantonnois van RodeLieutenant General Baron Armand de CeuninckLieutenant General Aloïs BiebuyckCavalry Lieutenant General Baron Léon de Witte de HaelenCavalry Lieutenant General Vicount Victor Buffin de ChosalThe individuals listed below were awarded the Military Cross 2nd class:
Aviator Lieutenant Colonel Baron Willy CoppensLieutenant General Alphonse Ferdinand TrommeLieutenant General Alphonse VerstraeteCount Hubert PierlotOther recipients include:
Alexander Cambridge, 1st Earl of AthloneLloyd Samuel BreadnerCharles I. CarpenterMatthew FrewElvet JonesÅge LundströmDouglas MacArthurCarl Petersén (born 1883)Lemuel C. Shepherd, Jr.Ingvald M. Smith-Kielland, Sr.John Marlow ThompsonChristoffel Venter
